23rd June 2017

Responding to the report, the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) in a statement said, the international community and the government of Sri Lanka should take note of the report and underlined the need to establish impartial, credible and effective transitional justice processes with the participation of international judges to address the past comprehensively, with the aim to achieving long-lasting peace, reconciliation and prosperity for all the people of Sri Lanka justice system Colombo, Jun 22 A leading Tamil diaspora group has demanded the participation of international judges in Sri Lanka‘s transitional justice processes in the wake of a UN report that was critical of country’s judicial system. Monica Pinto, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers was on a mission […]

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF), largest Tamil diaspora body reiterated its call for the inclusion of international judges in Sri Lanka’s transitional justice processes in the wake of a UN report that was critical of country’s judicial system. A report prepared by the former UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Mónica Pinto, on her mission to Sri Lanka from April 29 to May 7 last year, tabled by the current Rapporteur, Diego García-Sayán at the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council, was highly critical of the Sri Lankan justice system. “GTF calls upon the International Community and the Government of Sri Lanka to take serious note of this important report and to be fully focussed on the need to […]

Wigneswaran’s Moves Against Corrupt ministers has Nothing to do with the Rights of the Tamil Masses By K. Ratnayake A factional clash that erupted last week between Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership ended yesterday after a political compromise. Wigneswaran, a retired supreme court judge, became the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) chief minister after being appointed as the TNA’s leading candidate in the 2013 elections. Although he had not previously been a member of the alliance, he was brought into the organisation by TNA leader R. Sambandan because he was regarded as a reliable figure by the Colombo establishment and the international powers. Differences within the Tamil elite, however, came to the surface last week […]

By Prof. Asoka Ekanayaka Emeritus Professor A,N,I. Ekanayake has written an open letter to Justice and Buddha sana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe about the recent comments made by the minister regarding recent incidents of harassment against Christians in Sri Lanka. The full text ofof the letter is as follows – June 22, 2017 Hon Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha PC Minister of Justice Dear Dr Rajapaksha, Arrogant and Foolish Attempt to Deny the Persecution of Christians in Sri Lanka I was shocked and outraged to see a video news clip in which you sought to deny the numerous incidents involving the harrassment of Christians in this country in recent times while crudely condemning a reputable lawyer who had brought the relevant facts to light threatening to have him removed […]

Well-known Lawyer Lakshan Dias Flees Sri Lanka After Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe Threatens to Take Action in Two Days Well -known lawyer and Human Right Defender Lakshan Dias has flown out of his motherland to an undisclosed destination for reasons of personal safety,it is learnt. The outspoken lawyer had been receiving threats from different quarters after stating in a TV forum that over a 190 incidents of violence,harassment and intimidation against Christians and christian places of worship have occurred in Sri Lanka for the past two years since January 8th 2015. It was on Jan 8th 2015 that President Maithripala Sirisena was elected to office. This statement irritated the governing establishment as it shattered the illusion that attacks against Christian churches had ceased after the […]